Door construction



R. A. MILLER; 2,294,792

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Sept. 1, 1942.

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Sept. 1, 1942. R. A. MILLER noon CONSTRUCTION Filed May 11, 1958 6 Shets-Sheet 3 L m v (K m R EM? 681L- v p m RA. MUM-m 2,294,792

DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 /A/ WEN TOR Passer/7. MIL LER HTTOENE/SI Patented Sept. 1, 1942 DOOR CONSTRUCTION Robert A. Miller, Tarentum, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 11, 1938, Serial No. 207,272

Claims.

The present invention relates to closures and it has particular relation to closures of the swinging type and of relatively large dimensions suitable for use as doors in passageways of buildings.

The main object of the invention is to provide a large, swinging closure suitable for use as a door in a building and comprising a single panel of glass, which panel is self-sustaining uponits hinges.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of securing the hinges to a door of the foregoing type.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following the doors to provide for the transmission of light through the door or to obtain ornamental effects. 'In such doors, the glass merely closed an opening in the swinging member and was supported and reinforced by the latter, and little or no localized stress from the hinges was placed upon it.

Apparently, unitary doors comprising an unsupported panel of glass which acted as the movable barrier element and which also transmitted its own weight as well as other stresses to the hinges was not contemplated. Probably such doors constructed of the same quality of glass as the glass insert panels would have been too fragile to be practicable.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a door comprising a single panel of relatively strong, resilient tempered glass to which the hinge elements are directly attached. As an additional feature, the invention contemplates the provision of a satisfactory method of securing the hinges to the panel.

Tempered glass suitable for forming the doors constituting the subject' matter of the present invention is obtained by heating ordinary sheet glass to a temperature of 1100 or 1200 degrees F. and then suddenly cooling it by plunging it into oil or by the direct application of a blast of cold air. Glass so treated assumes a mechanical strength almost equal to cast iron and is quite springy, or resilient. It is also quite capable of, withstanding severe impacts or blows and severe mechanical stresses. If for any reason the door is broken, the glass instantly shatters into small rounded fragments which are quite 5 showing a portion of a door panel together with certain features of the hinge structure.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken horizontally through a door of revolving type embodying one form of the invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially upon the line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially upon the line V-V of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a cross member employed to hold the panels comprising the door in assembled relation.

Figure 7 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a wiper construction for sealing about the edges of the door panels.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of a pair of I doors embodying the invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the modified form of the invention illustrated by Figure 9.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the single panels of glass, tempered to a strength approximately four times that of untempered glass. The panel may be of substantially any preferred thickness. -However, a range of about to 1 or 1% inches is preferred. A satisfaci0 tory thickness for most purposes is about inch.

Various forms and types of hinges may be employed in mounting the doors, but in view of the peculiar characteristics of the tempered glass panel in most instances it is necessary to proiiivide specialized forms of securing devices for connecting the hinge to the panel. The drawings illustrate a satisfactory form of hinge and the method of securing it to the panel. These hinges includepins projecting from the top and bottom edges of the door panel and rotating in suitable bearings in the floor and the lintel of the door. The top hinge structure It, includes a pair of side plates 26, gripping opposite sidw of the glass panel and a casting ll, of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the glam panel'an'd providing a spacing element between the plate I6. This casting is secured in a notch I9, formed at the upper corner of the glass panel and having a rounded corner 28. Plates I6 and casting Il may be secured together by welding or by'bolts. The mechanical pressure of the plates upon the sides of the glass panel may be relied upon to hold the parts in position upon the latter. However, the means for securing the panel illustrated in the drawings comprises a bolt 2|, threaded through a sleeve 22, both of which have heads 23.. The bolt and sleeve are secured in openings in the plate I6 whereby upon tightening of the bolt, the plates will be caused to grip the glass. The edge of the notch I9 is provided with a semi-circular recess 24 to receive bolt 2| and sleeve 22, and the space between the sleeve and recess is filled with a suitable resilient packing such as .fibre or the like.

It is important to note that the corner 28 of the recess I9 and notch 24 are rounded to a curvature having aradius at least equal to half the thickness of the panel. Any holes in the glass must have radii at least equal to half the thickness of the glass panel; It is found to be impossible to provide a glass panel of tempered glass possessing satisfactory stability, if radii of lesser value are employed. Semi-circular recesses 24 may be replaced by holes formed in the panels at some distance from the edge.

.Casting I! is hollowed as indicated at 26 to receive a plate 21 which may be secured in position by welding, riveting or bolting to the side of the casting or in any other convenient manner and the plate at each end is provided with a downwardly-extending boss 28 which extends into a well 29 formed in the casting 21.

This boss is bored as indicated at 38 to receive a hinge pin 3| that extends upwardly through a boss 32 upon a fixed plate 33 secured by bolts 34 to a lintel 35. The lintel is slotted as indicated at 31, to receive a pair of lugs 38 through which extend a pin 39, constituting a pivot for a lever 4|, the forward extremity of which extends through a slot 42 formed.in the side of boss 32 into a recess 43 in pin 3|. The lever at its opposite end is formed with a slot (not shown) to receive a grooved portion 46 of a pin 41 which is threaded through the plate 33.- At its lower end, the pin is formed with a slot 48 within which the end of a screw driver may be inserted for rotating the pin to actuate the lever up or down to raise or lower the pin 3|.

At the corresponding lower corner the panel is notched as indicated at 58 to receive a casting substantially corresponding to the casting II already described. The lever or arm 52is mounted in hollow 53 in this casting and is secured to the side walls of the hollow by welding or by other convenient methods. A square recess formed in the lever adjacent to its rear end receives the square stem 54 of a vertically disposed hinge pin or shaft 55. At its lower extremity it is connected to a suitable actuating means for rotating the shaft to swing the door back to closed position after it (has. been opened. Such mechanism also includes suitable dashpot mechanism for checking the rate of swing. These various mechanisms are concealed beneath the floor or sill 51 and since they do not-constitute a portion of the present invention it is not deemed necessary to describe them in detail. Casting 5| is clamped in position by means of side plates 68 corresponding to plates I6 and he d in place by a sleeve bolt 6| identical in design and mounting to that described in connection with the upper hinge.

If desired, the side plates I6 may be recessed as indicated at 62 to provide additional space for shaft 55.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that top hinge pin 3| and shaft 55 need not be disposed directly in the plane of the door panel.

vIt is, of course, possible to provide laterally or rearwardly-extending arms upon the casting I1 and casting 5| and to secure suitable hinge pins in these openings. The method, securing such hinges, of course, would substantially correspond tothat shown in the drawings. It would involve the provision of notches at the corners of the doors or at other suitable locations along the rear edge of the doors adapted to receive a spacingbody corresponding to the casting H or casting 5| of sufficient rigidity to support the hinge pin and being provided with suitable side plates corresponding to the plates I6 and 60.

The structures shown in Figures 3 to '7 inclusive illustrate the application of the principles of the invention to a revolving door.

Such door construction comprises a pair of arcuate sealing panels or jams I5, which may be of tempered or untempered glass or other suitable material and which at their top and bottom edges are secured, for example by embedding, respectively, in ceiling I6 and floor 11. The outer faces of these panels are abutted by walls I8 which may also be of tempered or untempered glass, or other building material e. g., hollow glass blocks.

Door I9 mounted to revolve concentrically between panels 15, comprises a main panel 8| of tempered glass and a pair of panels 82 so hinged that they may at will be folded upon, or extended at right angles to panel 8|.

The bottom ofthe door is supported by and rotates upon a mechanism, comprising a housing 83 of "cast iron, bronze, or other material, embedded in the floor I! of the building, concentrically with respect to panels 15. This housing comprises a bottom portion 86 bored and tapped as shown at 81, to receive a threaded vertically adjustable plug 88, having a gear 89 upon its upper extremity, revolving in an enlarged portion 9| of bore 81. Gear 89 and plug 88 are rotated by a splined pinion 92 journaled at its lower extremity in housing 83 and its upper extremity in a cover 93 fitting in a recess 94 about the top of portion 9| of bore 81.

The top of the pinion may be slotted or otherwise formed to receive a screw driven or other device for actuating the mechanism to rotate the plu Plug 88 is axially bored as indicated at 96 and rabbetted as indicated at 91 to receive upper and lower thrust bearings 98 and 99, respectively which provide bearings for shoulders I 8|, and I82 respectively of spindle I83.

The upper extremity of spindle I83 is shouldered as shown at I84 and fits into a recess I in a csting I86, which as shown in Fig. 6 is approximately cruciform in outline.

The main body I8'I of the member'I85 fits into notch I88 medianly located in the lower edge of panel 8| and is provided with upwardly-extending flanges I89 for gripping the sides of the latter. These flanges may be welded to, or formed integrally with the casting. The portion of the panel gripped by the casting and the flanges may be protected by means of a layer III of resilient material. Positive pressure by the fianges upon the glass is assured by means of in the flanges.

If desired, semi-circular recesses H2 and H311 may be formed respectively in the glass and the member I I to receive the bolts H3. However, in most cases they are not strictly essential.

A construction, in which the semi-circular recesses, e. g. recess 24, are omitted, is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Aside-from the omission of the recesses in the glass and the corresponding bolts,

the structures are identical with those disclosed in Figs. 1, and 2. In order to distinguish the numerals of Figs. 9 and from those of Figs. 1 and 2, prime marks have been applied. Aside from the latter indicia the numerals correspond to those of the first two figures. 7

Wings H4 are formed upon casting I08 and are bored as indicated at H6 to receive pintles H'I, upon which are joumaled castings H8, shown in Fig. 5. The latter castings are disposed in notches H9 formed in the lower inner corners of panels 82 and correspond to recesses l9 described in connection with Fig. 1. The casting and the adjacent portions of the glass are clamped by plates I2I corresponding to plates I6.

Bolts I22 corresponding to bolts'2l may extend through the plates.

I The panels are held in extended position by means of diagonal braces I23 (shown'in Fig. 3), the extremities. of which are connected by bolts I24 to lugs I26, upon plates I2I and flanges I09. It will be noted that the lugs upon plates I2I are slightly higher than those upon the flanges I09, to permit the lugs to swing into axial alignment when the panels are folded back. A

bolt may then be dropped through the openings to maintain the panels in folded position.

Castings H8 and wings H4 of casting I06 are provided with semi-circular grooves I21 which, when the wing or folding panels 82 are extended, provide openings for bolts I28, shown in Fig. 5. These bolts function as keys which may be relied upon to hold the wings in position. The

braces I23 may then be eliminated if desired.

In order to provide a pintle for the top of door 19,'panel 8I is notched at its upper edge to receive a cruciform casting I3I corresponding closely in outline to the casting I06. The casting is'provided with flanges I32 like flanges I09 through which extend clamping bolts I33. These bolts are received in notches in the edge of the panel 8| and thus securely lock the latter in place.

The wings I34 (shown in Fig. 5) upon casting door, some yielding,'or flexible sealing strip must be provided upon the edges of the panels. Figs. .7, 8 and 9 illustrate various convenient forms of such strips.

In the form shown in Fig. '7, a channel-like member I of rubber, vinyl resin, thin spring metal, or other resilient material is clipped or cemented over the edge of the glass and is provided along its back with a flexible fin I5I de-v signed to wipe the surface of the'panels 15 as the door revolves.

It is again emphasized that indentations or notches formed in the door panel must be suitably rounded at the corners along lines of curvature having radii equal at least to half the thickness of the door panel. However, it is possible to obviate the necessity of recesses with rounded angles by clipping away a triangular portion at the corner by a single straight cut. Notches 24 may then be formed in the oblique edge. Holes or openings formed in the panel must have a diameter at least equal to the thickness of the door and must be spaced from the corners of the panels a distance at least equal to 6 times the thickness. of the panels. If these rules are not observed spontaneous shattering of the panel is likely to occur.

Doors comprising single panels of tempered glass are highly suitable for use in many modern architectural designs. They are perfectly clear and for that reason are quite desirable for use in stores or in the lobbies of theaters or other places where it is desirable to display the interior or a portion of the interior of a building from the street. .They are also very strong and will resist blows which would shatteran ordinary glass door. Furthermore, they are perfectly safe and if breakage does occur, the small rounded fragments prevent the possibility of injury to persons or damage to property. Likewise, they are semi-resistant to fire and resistant to corrosion and weathering.

Although only certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a building having an opening in the wall thereof and a door hung in the opening, the door being composed of a single monolithic slab of glass tempered inherently to shatter into small, harmless, rounded fragments upon rupture, hingesmounted upon an edge of the opening adjacent to a pair of vertically aligning corners of the slab and comprising swinging elements, said corners being clipped to provide slot and engages a recess I41 in the pin. The

means for mounting and operating this lever corresponds to that described in connection with the lever 4| and need not be described in further detail.

Since it is necessary substantially to space the edges of the revolving panels 8| and 82 from the curved stationary panels or jams 15, in order to prevent pinching of the hands of users of the mounting space for the swinging-elements of the hinges, the latter being provided with individual clamping elements for engaging opposite faces of the slab secured directly to the swinging elements, whereby the stress upon the hinges is directly transmitted through the clamping elements to the glass of the slab, the slab constituting the sole connection in the door between the swinging elements.

2. A door for a building comprising a single monolithic slab of glass tempered to shatter, upon rupture of the surface thereof, into small. harmless, fragments, the slab having corners thereof clipped away the complete thickness of the slab to provide recesses to receive blocks constituting hinge pintle mountings, the recesses having concavely curved edges, the radii of curvature being at least equal to the thickness of the slab, the blocks being secured in position by plates engaging and gripping opposite faces of the slab, and directly transmitting stresses upon the blocks to the glass of the slab the slab constituting the sole connection in the door between the pintle mountings.

3. A door for a building, which door comprises a closure element consisting of a single monolithic panel of glass tempered inherently to shatter into small rounded fragments upon rupture of the surface of the panel, and a plurality of hinges secured directly to the edges of the panel in spaced relation, the hinges each comprising an intermediate body portion engaging an end portion of the panel and extending across from face to face of the panel, said intermediate portion being formed with means providing a pivotal connection between the panel and a door frame, side plates gripping the sides of the panel and being directly secured to the intermediate body portion and holding the body portion from movement in a direction perpendicular to the face of the panel and constituting means for the transmission of stresses exerted upon the body portion perpendicular to the face of the panel.

4. A constructionas defined in claim 3 in which the side plates are united with the body portion to provide channel-like elements embracing the edge of the panel.

5. A door construction comprising a closure element consisting of a monolithic panel of glass adapted to fill a door opening in a building, said panel being so tempered that it will be shattered into small, harmless fragments upon rupture of the surface thereof, said panel further having a hinge secured directly to an edge thereof, which hinge comprises a channel-like member comprising an intermediate body portion having a pintle connection for the door and spanning from face to face of the panel and side plates secured as extensions to the said portion, and gripping the opposite faces of the panel to hold the hinge in position upon the panel.

ROBERT A. MILLER. 

